Swing Training Device and System

ABSTRACT

A swing training device and system that includes a rotating light source or sequence of LED lights that are used to simulate the movement of a pitched ball along a horizontal line. The device may be used in conjunction with training systems designed to develop proper swing mechanics. The device may be set up as a stand alone unit supported by it own frame. The swing training device will help develop visual skills by using the eyes to track a light source along a path to the ball such that a bat or striking object hits the ball at the same time the moving light intersects or passes over the ball. The light source will rotate or repeat at a user controlled frequency such that the user may continue to practice and drill for proper swing mechanics. The swing training device will provide user feedback as to the timing quality of the swing noting weather the swing was early, on-time (ball was hit at the same time moving light intersected with ball), or late. The feedback may be provided with an audible sound, a digital readout (of yellow, red and green lights) and/or with a digital score. The information could be stored electronically such that it may be downloaded to, or by wireless transmission to external devices and used to track progress on swing quality over time for players and coaches.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

The present application claims priority to U.S. Provisional ApplicationApplication No. 61/582,596 e-filed on Jan. 3, 2012.

The present application presents an improvement to Sams U.S. Pat. No.7,300,388.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present disclosure is directed generally to systems and methods fortraining the swing of a baseball or softball player.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates an improvement to my earlier U.S. Pat. No.7,300,388 for swing training in which a line configuration was claimedto support a ball assembly and also simulate a visual path or track thata ball would travel from pitcher to batter.

The present invention is a swing training device and system that alsodevelops eye movement and tracking skills used to strike or hit a movingobject with a bat, stick or racket. The training device proposed herewill provide a more realistic practice experience to users of swingtrainers in a manner that simulates those skills used to hit a pitchedbaseball or softball by conditioning the eyes to track and time a movinglight source which illuminates the line configuration claimed in U.S.Pat. No. 7,300,388. This invention develops the skills to consistentlyswing a bat on time through simulating a pitched ball by a method ofstriking a stationary ball when a moving light intersects, leads to, orotherwise provides a path to the stationary ball.

This swing training device will also provide user feedback as to recordand display weather the user's swing was early, on-time (i.e., ball washit at the same time moving light intersected with ball) or late. Timingfeedback may be presented as an audible sound, a digital readout,(yellow, red, green lights), digital score or combinations thereof. Thefeedback information may be stored electronically and/or downloaded tovarious devices and used to track progress over time for players andcoaches. The device may be used with a range of swing trainers designedas a single or multiple ball hitting station that can be configured fora range of situations from home to indoor gym to on field use.

BACKGROUND

A sports training device is used to teach specific skills required for asport. The device may be used to fine tune and exercise themuscular-skeletal mechanics related to the specific sport. The devicemay be used to practice and drill specific skills on and off the playingfield. At competitions, the device may be used for pre-game warm-upexercises. Training devices generally include mobile or stationaryobjects used in the specific sport. In baseball or softball, forinstance, a training device may include a mobile or stationary baseball,softball or similar object that a user may strike with his or herbaseball/softball bat. For tennis, racquetball, squash or badminton, atraining device may include a mobile or stationary ball, birdie or othersimilar object that a user may strike with a racket. For golf, atraining device may include a golf ball or similar object that a usermay strike with a golf club, and so on.

To enhance the training device, a timing mechanism maybe used to trainand develop the hand and eye skills used to track and time a movingobject such as a baseball or softball. This proposed training deviceadded to such devices as a batting tee, elastic-cord swing trainers,soft-toss machines, etc., can help make the experience more realistic bysimulating a pitched ball.

Because a user may want to practice in different locations such as athome, at the gym, at a practice field, and/or during game competition,it may be desirable for the training device to be transportable.Furthermore, to enhance the learning experience, it may be desirable forthe training device to provide feedback to the user. Feedback allows theuser to make physiological adjustments and mechanical corrections.Feedback can also reduce the length of time required to learn or mastera skill for a particular sport. The swing quality can be measured andrecorded through the use of electronic devices and monitors. Therecorded feedback can then be stored and transmitted to other devices tomonitor swing statistics such as the number of on-time swings versusnumber of total swings. That information can be used by the players andcoaches to track improvements over time.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a side perspective view of one embodiment of a single station,swing training apparatus from Sams U.S. Pat. No. 7,300,388 to which maybe added the swing training device and system according to the presentinvention;

FIG. 2 is a side plan view of the apparatus from FIG. 1 to which hasbeen added one embodiment of a swing training device, particularly arotating light source, according to the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the apparatus from FIG. 2 which showsgreater detail for the rotating light source devise used as oneembodiment for illuminating a line or path leading to a ball;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the swing training devicecomputer/controller showing several component parts in detail;

FIG. 5 shows another embodiment of the swing training device using anLED rope to illuminate a line or path leading to a ball, to convey theidea of a moving object such as a pitched baseball or softball;

FIG. 6 shows one embodiment of the proposed swing training device andsystem using the rotating light source fixed on a stand-alone base in amanner to illuminate a modified batting tee.

FIG. 7 shows one embodiment of the proposed swing training device andsystem using the LED rope in a manner to illuminate a modified battingtee.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Referring to FIG. 1, The V line configuration and single anchor line 8as claimed and patented in Sams U.S. Pat. No. 7,300,388 serves twopurposes: the first is to control and stabilize the ball after batcontact. The second was an attempt to provide a visual conditioningmechanism for training the user to track the flight of a ball with everypractice swing by moving his/her eyes along line 8. The single anchorline provides a path for the hitter to visualize the flight track of thepitched ball. The mechanics of hitting and making contact with the ballinvolves seeing the ball along its flight track. This conditioningallows skilled hitters to visualize a path by viewing points along theline of directional movement. By this process, one may better determinethe location, direction, and speed of a particular moving object. Thecurrent invention of a swing training device with a moving light source10, traversing line 8, makes this swing training experiencesubstantially more realistic through simulating the trajectory of amoving object like a baseball or softball.

With reference to FIG. 1, one embodiment of swing training apparatus 1comprises a frame 2 and an object assembly, such as ball 7, operativelycoupled to the frame 2 by a line 8. In further detail, FIG. 1 shows aframe 2 consisting of an upper arm 3 and lower arm 4 which containpulley wheels 5 through which a stretch cord 6 freely moves. A ball 7 isattached to stretch cord 6 through a line 8 that anchors to frame 2through net 9. The upper arm 3 and lower arm 4 are substantiallyhorizontal.

Referring to FIG. 2, the new invention claimed here is a swing trainingdevice and system for tracking and timing a simulated moving ball.

Referring to FIG. 2, one embodiment of device 10 anchors to upper arm 3of my earlier invention. That embodiment of device 10 comprises arotating light source 11 designed to produce a concentrated light beam12 that is so substantially focused as to illuminate a point of light13, that traverses horizontally along line 8, for example a rope orother extendable material, preferably having reflective media spacedalong it. The focused point of light 13 will move along assembly 8 inthe direction of arrow 14 to produce a moving point of light fortraining a user's eyes to follow a moving object like a baseball orsoftball.

To strike or hit a moving ball (baseball or softball) requires asequence of movements initiated by and based on the speed and locationof the moving object. Common terms used in the swing sequence are steps:(A) weight load back, (B) stride forward, and (C) swing. The timing ofthese steps is important to a good result. With the present invention,step C of the swing sequence may be initiated when the rotating lightbeam 12 focuses a point of light at position 15 on assembly 8. A “good”result of swing sequencing would be for the bat to strike the ball atthe same time an actual pitched ball would enter the user/swinger'shitting zone simulated here by the light at position 17 on ball 7. Aswing that is too early (simulated here when bat strikes ball when lightis at position 16) or a swing that is too late (simulated here when batstrikes ball when light is at position 18) could result in a miss or nocontact with an actual pitched, moving ball. Therefore, it is desirableto have the bat connect to the ball as it enters the proper hittingzone. The results of the swing could be displayed on a small computingdevice 30 which is operatively coupled to device 10 and processing inputsensors that note the position of the rotating light source 11 when theball 7 was hit. Ball contact may be noted by the computing device 30through a sound or motion sensor. The computing device can then displayto the user the results of the swing by indicating the total timedeviation from a zero reference noted as when the rotating light is in aposition as to focus a point of light on ball 7. More detail is providedbelow as described in FIG. 3 and FIG. 4.

FIG. 3 shows one representative construction of the proposed SwingTraining Device and System containing a rotating light source. Device 10comprises a rotating light source 20 that rotates about an axle 21. Thedevice 10 attaches to the upper arm 3 of the training apparatus 1(FIG. 1) by a screw 22 threaded through anchor plate 23. The device mayalso attach by other means. The device 10 is operated through an on-offand speed control switch 24, which is preferably a variable speedcontrol for the rotating light 20.

A preferred embodiment of the swing training device would providefeedback to the user of the swing trainer so that the user would knowwhether his/her swing was too early 16 or too late 18 (FIG. 2). Withreference to FIG. 3, preferably, the rotating light source 20 wouldinclude a sensor 25 that notes the angular position of the rotatinglight source such that a switch or other communication is initiated to acomputing device/controller when the rotating light source 20 is alignedwith the center of ball 7. (FIG. 2, depiction 17).

With reference to FIG. 4, a preferred embodiment of the swing trainingdevice and system includes a computing device/controller 30, (also shownin FIG. 2), with micro-processor 31 for data analysis. A virtual displaywindow is provided for displaying swing results and statistics 32, andplug-in ports 33 or wireless communication means 34 for receiving inputfrom other devices or sensors used in a swing training application forsensing motion or initiating a time trigger, or terminating a timetrigger, and a sound sensor 35 that is sensitive to the noise created bystriking the stationary ball.

Results from a practice session would be stored in a data storage module36, FIG. 4, where the data could then be transferred through hardwire orwireless communication modules 37 to electronic devices such as PDA's orsmart phones for further analysis. One such use of this informationwould be for tracking swing improvement over time as measured by anincrease in the frequency of practice swings that are “on-time”.

In FIG. 5, a second embodiment of the swing training device and systemconsists of a sequence of LED lights 38 incorporated with assembly 8such that the lights are sequentially timed in the direction of path 14to simulate a moving object such as a pitched baseball or softball. TheLED lights 38 are operatively coupled and controlled by the computingdevice 30 such that the speed may be varied to simulate the speed of apitched ball. The computing device 30 may also be operated in a randomspeed mode to present a more realistic experience to the batter. The LEDlights 38 are incorporated with assembly 8 by use of a substantiallytransparent sleeve 39 designed to functionally protect the LED lightsand wiring from the impacts of hitting the ball and tension placed onassembly 8 during the rebound process as the ball returns to its setposition. The unit will provide feedback on swing results in a similarmanner as described above while using the LED lights instead of arotating light source.

FIGS. 6 and 7 show an application where the swing training device andsystem could be used with other swing trainers such as the standardbatting tee 41 which supports a ball 7 and is modified to support ahorizontal member 42 by use of a clamping mechanism 43. In FIG. 6, thehorizontal member 42 is illuminated as previously described to present asimulated moving path by using a rotating light source 20. The rotatinglight source 20 and its housing 10 are supported by a base andhorizontal member 40. The base and horizontal member 40 also support theportable controller/computer described in FIG. 4. In FIG. 7, thehorizontal member 42 of the modified batting tee 41 supports a series ofLED lights 38 programmed to simulate a moving object such that thelights are sequentially timed in the direction of path 14 to simulate apitched baseball or softball. The LED lights 38 are controlled by thecomputing device 30 which also serves to display user results on swingtime.

REFERENCES FOR PRIOR ART

-   http://www.google.com/patents/US5833549?dq=swing+and+reaction+time&ei=-hs1UND1HeXk0QGgqoGQCg-   http://www.google.com/patents/US6855921?dq=swing+and+reaction+time&ei=-hs1UND1HeXk0QGgqoGQCg-   http://www.google.com/patents/US5071122?dq=swing+and+reaction+time&ei=zR01UI30PMbx0gGy84GgBA-   http://www.google.com/patents?id=avc3AAAAEBAJ&pg=PA2&dq=swing+and+reaction+time&source=gbs_selected_pages&cad=4#v=onepage&q&f=false-   http://www.google.com/patents/EP0562196A1    ?cl=en&dq=baseball+swing+reaction+time&hl=en&sa=X&ei=HTOlUL6nNPPK0AG97oHIDg&ved=0CDoQ6AEwAQ-   http://www.google.com/patents/US8292760?dq=baseball+tracking&hl=en&sa=X&ei=xEKqUKCeLuXV0QGq5TGgBA&ved=0CDoQ6AEwAQ-   http://www.google.com/patents/US8100532?pg=PA12&dq=baseball+visual+tracking&hl=en&sa=X&ei=GkeqUO31MK2t0AGAm4H4DA&ved=0CE8Q6AEwCA#v=onepage&q=baseball%20visual%20tracking&f=false

While the foregoing written description of the invention enables one ofordinary skill to make and use what is considered presently to be thebest mode thereof, those of ordinary skill will understand andappreciate the existence of variations, combinations, and equivalents ofthe specific embodiment, method, and examples herein. The inventionshould therefore not be limited by the above described embodiment,method, and examples, but by all embodiments and methods within thescope and spirit of the invention as claimed.

1. In a device for swing training having: a pair of spaced aparthorizontal frames and a vertical support there between; a verticalelastomeric member positioned between said horizontal frames spaced awayfrom said vertical frame for supporting a ball; a horizontal attachmentmember attached to said vertical frame and extending inwardly to saidelastomeric cord; and a V-shaped member attached to said horizontalattachment member at its base and; the opposite ends attached to saidelastomeric cord on either side of ball support location, theimprovement comprising: a light means positioned to simulate a ballmoving along the horizontal attachment member.
 2. The improvement setforth in claim 1 wherein said light means includes a plurality of LEDlights positioned along said horizontal attachment member and a controlmeans programmed to activate the lights towards the ball as moving alonga plane substantially parallel to said attachment member.
 3. Theimprovement set forth in claim 2 wherein said plurality of LED lightsare functionally protected.
 4. The improvement set forth in claim 3wherein said plurality of LED lights are protected by a sleeve designedto shield the LED and electronics from ball impact.
 5. The improvementset forth in claim 2 wherein said control means activates the lights inseries with a means for adjusting speed.
 6. The improvement set forth inclaim 1 wherein said light means includes a plurality of reflectivemeans positioned along said horizontal attachment member and a rotatablelight means positioned on one of said frame members to project at leastone beam on said reflective means and a control means programmed torotate said beam along said reflective means towards said ball.
 7. Theimprovement set forth in claim 1 which further includes: a computingmeans operably connected with said light means and a motion or soundsensor operably connected to said computing means to detect swingmovement in response to said light movement towards the ball, saidcomputing means comparing light movement toward the ball and thedetection of swing movement in response to said light movement toprovide an indicia of ball contact.
 8. The improvement set forth inclaim 7, wherein said computing means includes: software, memory, and adisplay means to view and subsequently store swing results.
 9. Theimprovement set forth in claim 8, further including a wireless datatransmission means for storing and displaying user information and swingsession data on smart phones and computing devices in a manner forefficient communication of practice results.
 10. The improvement setforth in claim 9, which is added to, or incorporated in, a swingtraining apparatus such as described in Sams U.S. Pat. No. 7,300,388.11. The improvement set forth in claim 9, which is added to, orincorporated in, an existing swing training apparatus.
 12. A device forswing training comprising: a pair of spaced apart horizontal frames anda vertical support there between; a vertical elastomeric memberpositioned between said horizontal frames spaced away from said verticalframe for supporting a ball; a horizontal attachment member attached tosaid vertical frame and extending inwardly to said elastomeric cord; aV-shaped member attached to said horizontal attachment member at itsbase; the opposite ends attached to said elastomeric cord on either sideof ball support location; and a light means positioned to simulate aball moving along the horizontal attachment member.
 13. The device setforth in claim 12 wherein said light means includes a plurality of LEDlights positioned along said horizontal attachment member and a controlmeans programmed to activate the lights towards the ball as moving alonga plane substantially parallel to said attachment member.
 14. The deviceset forth in claim 13 wherein said plurality of LED lights arefunctionally protected.
 15. The device set forth in claim 14 whereinsaid plurality of LED lights are protected by a sleeve designed toshield the LED and electronics from ball impact.
 16. The device setforth in claim 13 wherein said control means activates the lights inseries with a means for adjusting speed.
 17. The device set forth inclaim 12 wherein said light means includes a plurality of reflectivemeans positioned along said horizontal attachment member and a rotatablelight means positioned on one of said frame members to project at leastone beam on said reflective means and a control means programmed torotate said beam along said reflective means towards said ball.
 18. Thedevice set forth in claim 12 which further includes: a computing meansoperably connected with said light means and a motion or sound sensoroperably connected to said computing means to detect swing movement inresponse to said light movement towards the ball, said computing meanscomparing light movement toward the ball and the detection of swingmovement in response to said light movement to provide an indicia ofball contact.
 19. The device set forth in claim 18 wherein saidcomputing means includes: software, memory, and a display means to viewand store swing results and data for a hitting session.
 20. The deviceset forth in claim 19 further including a wireless data transmissionmeans for storing and displaying user information and swing session dataon smart phones and computing devices in a manner for efficientcommunication of practice results.